Audioengine A5 with TV headphone jack noise

[Thelo80]

Hi all—looking for a clean, low-noise path for TV audio in the living room.

Current setup

• TV → 3.5 mm headphone out → Audioengine A5 (active speakers)
• Result: audible noise whenever the A5s are connected to the TV.
  Lowering the A5 gain helps a little but the noise remains and is noticeable from the couch.

What I’ve tried

• Reduced speaker amp gain on the A5s → noise persists.
• Tried higher-end active monitors (Genelec, Adam Audio) → noise was actually worse.

Option 1 (stay with A5):

• Add a DAC with HDMI ARC—e.g., Fosi ZD3—then run its RCA out to the A5. ZD3 gives the flexibilty of the balanced output connected to an active monitor.
• Goal: use the TV’s ARC for volume/control and let an external DAC handle D/A conversion.

Option 2 (go passive):

• Move to a small amp + DAC stack (e.g., a Fosi combo) or an all-in-one like WiiM Amp Ultra, plus passive speakers such as ELAC Debut 6.2 (DBR62).
• Goal: eliminate the TV’s analog stage entirely and see if a different amplification chain lowers the system noise.

Questions for the hive mind

1. Has anyone tamed TV-jack noise specifically by adding an HDMI-ARC DAC and feeding existing actives via RCA? Any caveats with volume control, lip-sync, or passthrough behavior I should watch for?
2. If moving to passives, would I expect a meaningful noise reduction vs. keeping the A5s and adding an ARC DAC? Any measurements or experiences with WiiM Amp Ultra or Fosi stacks in similar TV-first living-room setups?
3. Any other clean, proven approaches for TV → speakers that keep noise floor inaudible at ~2–3 m listening distance?
4. If there’s a common gotcha I’m missing (cabling, power/grounding practices, TV settings, fixed vs. variable output), please call it out.

I’m not chasing reference-level SPL—just a quiet system where noise isn’t audible during quieter scenes. Open to alternatives I haven’t considered as long as they’re measurably (and audibly) quieter than my current path. Thanks!

 

[ZolaIII]

Add Toslink unbalanced DAC and feed it from TV if TV has Toslink output of course.

 

[Thelo80]

Right. But my wife and daughter want to live with one remote. So HDMI ARC is a must

 

[DVDdoug]

If moving to passives, would I expect a meaningful noise reduction

Since the noise seems to be coming from the TV's analog output I wouldn't expect that to help. You're just feeding the signal and noise into a different amplifier.

 

[respice finem]

Right. But my wife and daughter want to live with one remote. So HDMI ARC is a must

So, probably an HDMI audio extractor might be the solution.

Amazon.com : hdmi audio extractor

 

[Thelo80]

So, probably an HDMI audio extractor might be the solution.

Amazon.com : hdmi audio extractor

Thanks. I am not sure, but I think the HDMI audio extractor does not allow volume control unless it's HDMI ARC.

 

[respice finem]

Thanks. I am not sure, but I think the HDMI audio extractor does not allow volume control unless it's HDMI ARC.

Many are ARC, even eARC compliant, some come with remote control. But even without, you should be able (with ARC/eARC) to control the volume via the TV remote, after setting it up in the menu. At least with Amazon, you can send it back if no luck.